“We’re excited to be opening back up at the new location,” said Ashton Creech, store manager. “We’ve missed the customers and we’re excited to unveil the new store.”

At 22,000 square feet, the new store contains thousands of products including brand-name furniture and Serta mattresses, home décor, electronics, season goods, toys, everyday consumables and one-time closeouts. Big Lots aims to help shoppers nationwide stretch their budgets by stocking their store with merchandise that typically sells for 20 to 40 percent less than discount stores and up to 70-percent off of traditional retailers, according to information in a press release from Big Lots.

“The new store’s format is more organized and spacious, formatted to what shoppers have come to enjoy,” Big Lots spokeswoman Toni Fink said.

Burke’s Outlet is another new retailer in the region. It officially opened its doors Nov. 9.

“We’re excited to be opening back up at the new location,” said Ashton Creech, store manager. “We’ve missed the customers and we’re excited to unveil the new store.”

At 22,000 square feet, the new store contains thousands of products including brand-name furniture and Serta mattresses, home décor, electronics, season goods, toys, everyday consumables and one-time closeouts. Big Lots aims to help shoppers nationwide stretch their budgets by stocking their store with merchandise that typically sells for 20 to 40 percent less than discount stores and up to 70-percent off of traditional retailers, according to information in a press release from Big Lots.

“The new store’s format is more organized and spacious, formatted to what shoppers have come to enjoy,” Big Lots spokeswoman Toni Fink said.

Burke’s Outlet is another new retailer in the region. It officially opened its doors Nov. 9.

The store, located by Jacksonville’s newest Walmart at 571 Yopp Road, offers customers brand name apparel and accessories, as well as home décor items.

“We offer a little bit of everything,” said Brenda Johnson, store manager. “Burke’s meets the needs of consumers nowadays who are looking for good quality clothes at a reasonable price.”

At 21,000 feet and located in the fast-growing area of Yopp Road, Burke’s selections have attracted many customers, according to Johnson.

“We’ve received really good reviews since we’ve opened,” she said. “Customers love the store. They love how clean, organized and neat it is; and they love the selection.

“We’re doing really well.”

Carmike Cinemas is finalizing construction on its Patriot 12 Theater, located on Western Boulevardnext to Town Place Suites.

“We’re getting very close to opening,” said Terrell Mayton, director of marketing for Carmike Cinemas, which projects the theater will open in December.

The Patriot 12 will be the first Carmike Cinema in North Carolinato feature The BigD, Carmike’s Large Format Digital Experience, featuring bigger screens, bigger sound and bigger, more luxurious seating providing moviegoers with the ultimate in entertainment experience, Mayton said.

The auditoriums are three stories high and will include wall-to-wall screens measuring 78 feet wide and 35 feet tall, the latest in 7.1 surround sound, digital projection for both 2D and 3D features and high, plush, leather rocking seats.

Mayton says that one of the most frequent questions he’s asked is why the decision to bring the Big D experience to Jacksonville.

“We say, why not? We’re very excited to bring our BigD, large format to Jacksonville,” said Mayton. “Jacksonvilleis a great community and our new theater’s location is a prime fast-growing area. People will come to the Patriot 12 and be wowed when they walk in the door.”

Mayton also told The Daily News that the name of the theater is a tribute to the patriots who live in the area, including active duty and retired Marines and their spouses.

“The military is a very big part of our customer base and we appreciate them very much,” Mayton said. “We have several theaters near military installations all over the United States. They’re big moviegoers; we know them and have a connection with them. It was important to us to tie in the uniqueness of our local audience to our new theater’s name.”

Down from the Patriot 12, located at the intersection of Western and Henderson Drive, LongHorn Steakhouse plans to open a new Jacksonville restaurant in late winter.

With a restaurant design inspired by the American West, the approximately 6,300 square foot steakhouse will seat more than 240.